Mountain Rescue concerns over single police force

Scottish Mountain Rescue Teams have expressed concern about how the planned merger of Scottish police forces will affect mountain rescues. The Police currently co-ordinate each rescue, with actual rescue work being undertaken by individual mountain rescue teams, helicopter crews and other emergency services if necessary. The Scottish Mountain Rescue Committee is urging the police to consider how rescues will be co-ordinated after the merger in April next year and hopes that the merger can be a catalyst for improving the system rather than causing problems.

At the same time, the UK Government has announced the shortlist of companies bidding to operate search and rescue helicopter services after the Royal Navy and RAF give up this role in 2016. Bond Offshore Helicopters, Bristow Helicopters and CHC Helicopter are bidding to win the contract and it is expected that the successful company will be announced early next year.

The bidding has been split into three different lots including coastguard duties. Lot one covers the service for Sumburgh, Stornoway, Culdrose, Leconfield and Valley using helicopters with a minimum rescue capacity of eight casualties per aircraft.

Lot two is to deliver the service for Lee-on-the-Solent and, Chivenor, Prestwick, Lossiemouth and Wattisham using helicopters with a minimum rescue capacity per aircraft of four casualties per aircraft. The third lot is a bid to cover both lots one and two.